alias?

Gary86 · Gary86 #1 (**permalink**)

02-15-2010, 01:32 AM

What exactly is it? Is it just a copy of the program/file?

VegasGeorge · VegasGeorge #2 (**permalink**)

02-15-2010, 01:55 AM

It's the same thing as a shortcut on a PC. It's just a special icon file that points back to the name and location of the actual application file.

EndlessMac · EndlessMac #3 (**permalink**)

02-15-2010, 02:51 AM

As mentioned it's a shortcut. Apple just wanted to be different so it's called an alias instead.

Gary86 · Gary86 #4 (**permalink**)

02-15-2010, 04:04 AM

cool thanks guys, appreciate it

RNDdave · RNDdave #5 (**permalink**)

02-15-2010, 04:21 AM

As said, it's basically a shortcut, but way better than a shortcut.

On Windows if you make a shortcut to a file and then move the original file, the shortcut doesn't work.

In Mac OS, if you move the original, the alias still works - so it's almost like a dynamic shortcut if you like.

One way to benefit from an alias (for example) is to keep your big movie files on an external hard drive, then make an alias and drop the alias into your movies folder (under your name in Finder) - you can now go into Front Row, and it will see those movies but you're not loosing space on your primary disk (and of course you only need one drive to hold your movies on, which you could then use on your Xbox, a couple of Macs and a PC (1 device at a time, unless you go down the NAS route, but that's a whole different question

))

Cheers,

Dave.

6string · 6string #6 (**permalink**)

02-15-2010, 04:28 AM

Good work on an insightful explanation for the OP.

RNDdave #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 04, 2006 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 1,055 Mac Specs: Alu MacBook \| iPod Classic \| iPod Shuffle \| iPad2 (3G)	02-15-2010, 04:21 AM As said, it's basically a shortcut, but way better than a shortcut. On Windows if you make a shortcut to a file and then move the original file, the shortcut doesn't work. In Mac OS, if you move the original, the alias still works - so it's almost like a dynamic shortcut if you like. One way to benefit from an alias (for example) is to keep your big movie files on an external hard drive, then make an alias and drop the alias into your movies folder (under your name in Finder) - you can now go into Front Row, and it will see those movies but you're not loosing space on your primary disk (and of course you only need one drive to hold your movies on, which you could then use on your Xbox, a couple of Macs and a PC (1 device at a time, unless you go down the NAS route, but that's a whole different question )) Cheers, Dave. ∙ Flickr/Me ∙ Twitter/Me ∙ Flickr/Mac-Forums ∙
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Gary86 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 31, 2010 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 291 Mac Specs: Early 2010 13" MBP; Late 2010 13" MBA	02-15-2010, 01:32 AM What exactly is it? Is it just a copy of the program/file?
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VegasGeorge #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 23, 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV USA Posts: 891 Mac Specs: iMac, and Macbook Pro	02-15-2010, 01:55 AM It's the same thing as a shortcut on a PC. It's just a special icon file that points back to the name and location of the actual application file.
	QUOTE Thanks

Gary86 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 31, 2010 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 291 Mac Specs: Early 2010 13" MBP; Late 2010 13" MBA	02-15-2010, 04:04 AM cool thanks guys, appreciate it
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6string #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 09, 2009 Location: Down Under :D Posts: 5,484 Mac Specs: Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)	02-15-2010, 04:28 AM Good work on an insightful explanation for the OP.
	QUOTE Thanks

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